This article presents an overview of the potential and applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry methods in environmental research. This short portrait shows what can be done with these methods in environmental samples and which are the most used 1H MRI and NMR relaxometry experiments in this field. It aims to be a resource for readers wanting to get into the research field of environmental NMR. It draws attention to the potential of these techniques by focusing on two key environmental samples such as wood and soils. Then, a brief description of basics of these methods is introduced for non-NMR experts. This is followed by some examples of 1H MRI and NMR relaxometry applications, allowing to obtain information about pore size distribution, water interactions, water uptake, drying, particle transport, clogging, dispersion, adsorption, etc. The versatility of these techniques to study such a variety of physical phenomena linked to their noninvasive nature, permitting to directly study opaque systems in situ, make them two of the most powerful tools for the study of environmental samples.